Privatization of car testing gets mixed reaction

JAKARTA (JP): City councilors and operators of public transit vehicles voiced mixed opinions about the city administration's plan to privatize vehicle testing.

The city administration has appointed two private firms -- PT Nakia and PT SAWU -- to handle vehicle tests.

Nakia will operate in Kalideres, West Jakarta, to serve owners of public transit vehicles from West Jakarta and North Jakarta, while PT SAWU will operate in Srengseng Sawah, South Jakarta, to serve those from that mayoralty and the Central Jakarta mayoralty.

PT SAWU will use an integrated computerized system, whose construction is scheduled to be completed in November. The system will be able to perform nine tests for roadworthiness within 15 minutes, according to the company's technical manager.

Councilor Aliwongso Halomoan Sinaga of Commission D on transportation said he fully supported the plan, especially because the quality of the present testing system was poor and the service inadequate.

"You can see for yourself that many vehicles on the streets are in fact not roadworthy. This is proof that the present quality of testing needs improvement," Aliwongso said.

Privatization is an appropriate measure to improve that quality, Aliwongso added.

Another city councilor, Sumekar Kartawijaya, who is also deputy chairman of the commission, however, warned that the legality of privatizing the testing should be determined before the facilities open.

Second, the city administration must ensure that after a vehicle is certified as passing roadworthiness tests, it will not be deliberately altered, Sumekar said.

"For instance, prior to the tests, vehicle owners could replace worn out tires with new ones. After the tests, the driver could take off the new tires and put back on the bald tires," Sumekar explained.

It will be necessary for the city administration to institute checks on public transit vehicles which have been newly certified, Sumekar said.

"What matters is the persons who are involved in the tests rather than the technology used to perform the tests," Sumekar said.

Commenting on the planned privatization, Siswadi, an administration officer in charge of vehicle testing for PT Kopaja, which operates green minibuses, said he wondered why the government could not perform the tests itself.

Siswadi said he hoped that with the new computerized system the testing fees can be reduced.

Hamim Busro, the public relations manager of the state-owned PPD which operates wide-bodied buses, said privatization of the services would have no impact on his company because PPD has its own vehicle testing and repair center in Narogong, Bekasi.

Hamim said PPD plans to modernize the center and operate it commercially. (arf)